Urging progress for migratory waterbirds in the West and Central Asian flyways

30th August 2012

The Western/Central Asian Site Network for Siberian Cranes and Other Waterbirds (WCASN) was formally launched on 18 May 2007 in Kazakhstan, in a special signing ceremony held during the Sixth Meeting of the Signatories to the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on Conservation Measures for the Siberian Crane (MoU) under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

The establishment of a Siberian Crane site network has critical importance for Siberian Cranes. It has also benefited other cranes and waterbirds. The WCASN is the first step towards developing a more comprehensive site network for migratory waterbirds under a wider framework proposed within the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) Initiative under CMS. The WCASN will eventually be integrated within the wider waterbird site network under CAF.

The WCASN focuses on conservation efforts on sites of international importance for the Siberian Crane along its West and Central Asian flyways in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russian Federation (western Siberia), Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The goal of the WCASN is to ensure the conservation of the Siberian Crane and other migratory waterbirds along the Western and Central Asian Flyways through recognition and appropriate management of a network of internationally important sites.

To the date twelve sites from India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have been designated within the WCASN. Other Range States (Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Russia) also proposed their sites and are working on the preparation of nomination documents.